Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
What is academic writing? 2. What are some examples of academic papers? 3. Why do you write academic papers? Audience-most probably an instructor Purpose- to show what the author knows about the subject (reader is a specialist in the field) -to inform (the public) Writing strategy-writer must show familiarity, expertise and intelligence in dealing with the topic and its development and organization Development/Structure-Data are presented, leading to the thesis or main point of the author. Logical build-up to the thesis -Thesis is supported not only by data but by citing experts. -Documentation is important Organization-Academic writing is highly conventional (established practice) -Predictable pattern of organization (IMRD+R) CONTENT-Technical, scientific data -Results of research (experiment, survey and other scholarly methods of gathering data) -Factual and precise data -Academic writing is subject focused ACADEMIC WRITING STYLE Vocabulary -Preference for the technical term (jargon) over laymans term -Vocabulary shift (words used are different from those used in speech and in other forms of writing) [be formal and boring] -Preference of single-word verbs -Preference for more FORMAL expressions -choose carefully your words -avoid contractions -avoid expressions of levity or lack of seriousness (Ex. A peep into the world of worms) Objectivity -Preferring 3rd person to the 1st person (I) to create an impersonal style [This convention is slowly changing] -Avoiding biased language and emotionally-charged words -Avoid parenthetical comments
-Impersonal style to suggest objectivity -agentless passive -functional use of we -use of past tense in the reports of experiments Formal Grammar and Style -Limiting run on expressions such as and so forth, etc. -Preferring the passive voice (the subject of the sentence is the receiver) -Placing adverbs before the verb (The blood is slowly withdrawn.) Avoid direct address to reader -Avoid the use of direct questions. Instead, express the direct question indirectly -(ex: What can be done to lower costs? We now need to consider what can be done to lower costs) -Avoid using imperative tone (begins with a verb) Solution: Re-expression DENOTATIVE vs CONNOTATIVE LANGUAGE -Preference for denotative language over connotative language -Use of figures of speech that might make meaning unclear is discouraged Accurate and Correct Language -Preference for details that give an accurate picture of the phenomenon or situation give specific measurements, numbers, dates, etc -Use grammatically correct language Symbols used in evaluating papers -VOC (vocabulary) Use a better, more appropriate word -SC (Sentence construction) Rephrase to correct the error in grammar or parallelism and/or logic -WF (Wrong word form) Correct the form of the word -A (Agreement) Subject-Verb Agreement Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement -SP (Spelling) Correct error in spelling -T (Tense) Correct error in tense -Conj (Conjunction) Use correct conjunction